Aristotle is credited with advising that we should “know the purposes we seek in life, for then, like archers aiming at a definite mark, we shall be more likely to attain what we want.” The concept aptly applies to bidding. There’s a difference between simply turning in a bid and turning in a bid aimed at a very definite mark. With more bids today competing for every available project, it may seem the most beneficial to aim for the lowest bid, but many advise a more tactical, comprehensive approach. If the right price gets you on the outside ring of the target, then having the right price and a 100 percent accurate, professionally presented bid takes you right to the center of the bull’s eye. Add clarity that shows exactly what you plan to do, and you’re splitting through a lot of your competitors’ bids.
“It is vital for security dealers to present very accurate and professional proposals,” Rich Reihl, creator of BidMagic Proposal Software, comments. “This is not the season to shoot from the hip estimating prices or attempt to win by being the low bidder. Dealers who fold under this pressure and drop their prices will not be rewarded with profits at the end of the job.”